Why is my new battery sparking when I connect it?

by Mark
(Sutton, UK)

I have a Piaggio Fly 125 which needed a new battery as the old one died. I have just tried to fit the new battery but as soon as I touch the second cable to the battery it sparks and the starter motor tries starting the bike.

The battery is in the right way round and the keys aren't in the ignition. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Comments for Why is my new battery sparking when I connect it?

It sounds like your starter solenoid is stuck. Find it, remove one wire and see if the battery sparks when you try to put on the wire. There could also be a short circuit in the starter circuit but I'm betting it's the solenoid.

When you're done here, you may also be interested in reading some of these popular pages:

A battery tender like the Battery Tender Jr. can make all the difference in whether your scooter will start right up each spring, after being stored for months.

Just about every scooter owner needs to have a battery tender, sometimes called a trickle charger. Unless you are lucky enough to live in a climate where you can ride all year long, chances are your scooter will be put on ice, figuratively-speaking, for at least a couple months every winter.

One of the key steps in winterizing a scooter is to protect your battery from draining during its "rest" period. This can – and will – happen if you leave your battery sitting untended in your cold scooter over the winter, even if it's in a garage or shed.

The Scooter Life

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